In a politically charged environment, the Colombian government led by President Gustavo Petro is facing mounting scrutiny following the issuance of Decree 0639 , which has ignited a firestorm of controversy. This decree, signed on June 11, 2025, purportedly establishes a framework for a popular consultation that critics argue undermines the constitutional order.
On June 16, 2025, a motion of censure was filed against Petro’s cabinet by 26 members of the opposition in the Chamber of Representatives . This motion seeks to hold the involved ministers accountable for allegedly engaging in prevaricato —a crime of making an unlawful public decision. The motion aims to initiate political controls against the officials who co-signed the controversial decree.
According to the statement presented, the primary objective of the motion is to preserve the Constitution , uphold the separation of powers , and maintain democratic order . The opposition contends that the actions of these ministers represent a significant breach of constitutional norms.
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The censure motion asserts that the involved ministers from President Petro’s cabinet are politically and legally responsible for authorizing what the signatories term an “illegal and unconstitutional act.” The parliamentary opposition intends to demonstrate the alleged coordinated effort to undermine the Senate’s authority and decisions.
The motion is grounded in Article 135, numeral 9 of the Political Constitution and Articles 6, 29, and 30 of Law 5 of 1992, providing the necessary framework for holding a ministerial censure. The signatories insist on convening the following cabinet members:
- Armando Benedetti Villaneda: Minister of the Interior
- Rosa Yolanda Villavicencio Mapy: Minister of Foreign Affairs
- Germán Ávila Plazas: Minister of Finance
- Augusto Alfonso Ocampo Camacho: Minister of Justice
- Pedro Arnulfo Sánchez Suárez: Minister of Defense
- Martha Viviana Carvajalino Villegas: Minister of Agriculture
- Guillermo Alfonso Jaramillo Martínez: Minister of Health
- Antonio Eresmid Sanguino Páez: Minister of Labor
- José Luciano Sanín Vásquez: Minister of Mines
- Diana Marcela Morales Rojas: Minister of Commerce
- José Daniel Rojas Medellín: Minister of Education
- Christian David Díaz Bulla: Minister of Environment
- Helga María Rivas Ardila: Minister of Housing
- Julián Molina Gómez: Minister of Information Technology
- María Fernanda Rojas Mantilla: Minister of Transport
- Yanai Kadamani Fonrodona: Minister of Culture
- Patricia Duque Cruz: Minister of Sports
- Ángela Yesenia Olaya Requene: Minister of Science
- Carlos Alfonso Rosero: Minister of Equality
Among the key arguments presented in the document, the signatories enumerate five main points:
- Authorize an overtly unconstitutional action
- Disregard the Senate’s authority and decisions
- Usurp functions that belong to the judicial power
- Violate basic principles of the Social State of Law
- Promote a serious institutional crisis
The document emphasizes that the censure motion is not merely procedurally sound; it is deemed essential to safeguard constitutional principles, the division of powers , and democratic order .
The opposition legislators argue that the collective signing of Decree 0639 constitutes “a coordinated action to break the constitutional order.” Thus, each minister should face censure not only for their participation but also for their failure to uphold their legal responsibilities by not alerting others to the decree’s illegality. High-profile signatories include names like Juan Espinal , Lina María Garrido , Betsy Pérez , and many others. Together, they argue that this censure is vital in restoring respect for legality and institutional norms in Colombia against a direct threat to the balance of powers.